The tropical weather forecast for the Whitsun weekend comes with warnings about sunburn, dehydration, cold water and traffic jams.

With temperatures expected to soar above 30 degrees Celsius, the public health institute RIVM warns that visits to the beach or to the many major events, such as Pinkpop in Limburg and the hockey world cup in The Hague, will necessitate the use of lashings of sun cream. ‘Do not underestimate the sun’s power,’ says the RIVM. ‘You can get burned just standing in the sun for 15 minutes.’

And do not forget the bottled water, says the organisation, particularly if you are driving. You could be caught in one of the expected traffic jams.

According to motoring organisation ANWB, around 800,000 people will be on the move this weekend, with the biggest rush expected on Friday afternoon. The roads to the south and to the Veluwe national park will be particularly busy, the ANWB says. The organisation is expecting 250 kilometres of traffic jams on Friday afternoon.

Tourist influx

The national tourism agency NBTC says of the 800,000 holidaymakers, 500,000 will stay in the Netherlands, around half of them at camping sites, most of which are already fully booked. In addition, the agency expects an influx of 500,000 tourists.

There is also a warning that sea water is still cold. ‘The water has not yet reached pleasant summer temperatures so there is a chance of becoming cold and shivery and of cramp,’ the national rescue team says. It advises people not to stay in the water for too long and to wear wetsuits during water sports.